healthcare.gov is an absolute nightmare

[theeedude]

Your sister had access to purchasing healthcare insurance...she just chose not to purchase it and take her chances. She gambled and lost.

If you have a preexisting condition, you may be uninsurable for what you can reasonably afford.

 

[Doc Savage Fan]

If you have a preexisting condition, you may be uninsurable for what you can reasonably afford.

You said that she lost her insurance in January and didn't have her problems until October. She had plenty of time to purchase insurance during that time period and made a deliberate choice not to. She made a very bad choice.

Fortunately for her she can get a policy to cover her pre-existing condition on 1/1/14. Unfortunately she's on the hook for $150k for making such a bad choice. Live and learn.

 

[theeedude]

You said that she lost her insurance in January and didn't have her problems until October. She had plenty of time to purchase insurance during that time period and made a deliberate choice not to. She made a very bad choice.

Fortunately for her she can get a policy to cover her pre-existing condition on 1/1/14. Unfortunately she's on the hook for $150k for making such a bad choice. Live and learn.

She can get a policy to cover her pre-existing condition on 1/1/14 not due to fortune, but due to Obamacare. If she can't pay the pre-Obamacare $150K, other paying customers like you will be on the hook for it. That's why we need Obamacare, so that
A. People can get coverage
B. People do get coverage

 

[Matt1970]

Surprise-Obamacare Now Projected To Cost Hundreds Of Billions Less Than Expected
http://www.forbes.com/sites/rickung...ost-hundreds-of-billions-less-than-projected/

Lower than projected costs under ACA will lead to lower premiums in 2014
http://www.allvoices.com/contribute...ed-under-aca-will-lead-to-lower-2014-premiums


If you and other hacks would read all news not just the nut job sites and BS headlines you may have been able to answer your own question.
Its not perfect buts its no where near as bad as Fox and World Nut Daily type sites make it out to be.

That data is simply false.

While, ten years ago, per-capita spending on healthcare had been growing by an average annual rate of 5 percent, that number was dramatically cut to 1.8 percent during the 2007-2010 period

If you can find a 1.8% increase from 2007 through 2010, you are a better man than I. The lowest increase I could find was 2009 and that is still over 3%

 

[Incorruptible]

Why are people surprised at all? Government is very inefficient and obama is even worse. This was bound to happen.

 

[monovillage]

Worked for me and everyone I know.

Liar.

 

[First]

That data is simply false.

If you can find a 1.8% increase from 2007 through 2010, you are a better man than I. The lowest increase I could find was 2009 and that is still over 3%

Oh FYI I debunked this bullshit here.

 

[CPA]

Anyone surprised that the law forced through Congress, against the will of the people, by politicians who (still!) haven't read the bill, now delivers a broken website and massive increases in health premiums? We haven't gotten to where the doctor shortages will kick in yet.

Your last sentence is what many people are forgetting about but will soon experience. Two specialists that I see - one an orthopedic surgeon, another a urologist - have already posted that they will not be an ACA provider. Therefore, if you have a policy through the exchange, you have to pay cash for their services.

 

[First]

Your last sentence is what many people are forgetting about but will soon experience. Two specialists that I see - one an orthopedic surgeon, another a urologist - have already posted that they will not be an ACA provider. Therefore, if you have a policy through the exchange, you have to pay cash for their services.

Huh, that doesn't even make sense. How would a doctor know whether someone got a private insurance plan through the ACA? How do they know if my Aetna PPO is through ACA or not?

 

[feralkid]

Your last sentence is what many people are forgetting about but will soon experience. Two specialists that I see - one an orthopedic surgeon, another a urologist - have already posted that they will not be an ACA provider. Therefore, if you have a policy through the exchange, you have to pay cash for their services.

No.

Policies through the exchange are by the same old private insurers that provide insurance outside of the exchange. You've been misinformed, or you're thinking of Medicare/Medicaid or you're making things up.

 

[Paul98]

Your last sentence is what many people are forgetting about but will soon experience. Two specialists that I see - one an orthopedic surgeon, another a urologist - have already posted that they will not be an ACA provider. Therefore, if you have a policy through the exchange, you have to pay cash for their services.

LOL so they are going to stop accepting insurance?

 

[werepossum]

Huh, that doesn't even make sense. How would a doctor know whether someone got a private insurance plan through the ACA? How do they know if my Aetna PPO is through ACA or not?

A lot of providers have announced they are not accepting the exchange plans. I expect this will change though if and when the exchange plans reach critical mass, as there are not (to my knowledge anyway) essential differences between exchange plans and non-exchange plans from the providers' standpoint. I wouldn't be surprised if a lot of this is intentionally generated to provide leverage in rate negotiations between the providers and the new insurers and new plans. The only other possibilities are that exchange plans have inherent differences unfavorable to the providers (which to my admittedly limited knowledge they should not) or more likely if the exchange plans' insurers in particular areas are unpalatable to providers. Either way, I'm assuming that once enough people buy into the exchange plans, most providers will negotiate mutually acceptable terms with those plans' companies. People don't generally cut themselves from their customer base unless they simply cannot reach mutually beneficial deals.

EDIT: Even if providers do not like a particular insurance company, once enough people in an area are insured with that company they likely will negotiate an agreement. In my area the second largest provider network (Memorial Hospital network) is every few years announcing they will not accept the largest health insurer (Blue Cross Blue Shield of Tennessee.) Every time they've worked out a compromise. I think in large part these announcements are to gain leverage in those negotiations, and in smaller part to gain public sympathy while they are holding out.

 

[Wreckem]

Their security is borked, thank God I don't have to give them any personal info. If you've already done it, make sure your credit is locked down.

Contact local insurance companies, see if they can do better by bypassing the exchanges.

Sorry by this needs to be said in all caps.

YOU SHOULD ONLY BE BUYING THROUGH THE EXCHANGES IF YOU ARE ELIGIBLE FOR TAX CREDITS. YOU CAN ONLY GET TAX CREDITS BY GOING THROUGH THE EXCHANGE.

IF YOU DO NOT QUALIFY FOR TAX CREDITS YOU CAN BY ANY PLAN ON THE EXCHANGE OFF THE EXCHANGE DIRECTLY THROUGH THE COMPANY OFFERING THE PLAN.

GOOD LUCK FINDING BETTER PRICES THROUGH "LOCAL" INSURANCE COMPANIES. ALL 2014 METAL PLANS BOUGHT OFF THE EXCHANGE COST MORE OR LESS THE SAME AS THOSE ON THE EXCHANGE(before tax credits). THE ONLY WAY TO SAVE MONEY IS TO GET A 2013 PLAN WHILE THEY ARE STILL OFFERED(BEFORE DEC 16).

 

[Wreckem]

No.

Policies through the exchange are by the same old private insurers that provide insurance outside of the exchange. You've been misinformed, or you're thinking of Medicare/Medicaid or you're making things up.

Yes they are through the same companies buy not every Dr is on every plan.

If you are buying a metal based plan on or off the exchange, opt for a PPO and not a HMO. HMOs metal based plans are EXTREMELY limiting on terms of what providers are on those plans.

Although, the real reason why Dr's aren't taking the plans is because on these plans allow the purchaser a 90 grace period instead of the previous 30 day grace periods to pay their premiums, which leaves providers open to to a ton of risk. If they fixed that loophole more/all providers would likely accept the metal based plans. This issue effects ALL metal based plans, on OR off the exchange.

 

[Wreckem]

You said that she lost her insurance in January and didn't have her problems until October. She had plenty of time to purchase insurance during that time period and made a deliberate choice not to. She made a very bad choice.

Fortunately for her she can get a policy to cover her pre-existing condition on 1/1/14. Unfortunately she's on the hook for $150k for making such a bad choice. Live and learn.

She might not have qualified for private insurance even before Oct. I was looking at the underwriting guidelines for the Big 5 health insurance providers in Texas and they are pretty strict in their underwriting guidelines. They have flat out rejections if you are past a certain BMI, if you are on certain drugs, on certain drugs + and above a certain BMI or just have certain medical conditions.

Right now if you can qualify for a 2013 plan you are better of trying to eek in under the wire and atleast have the 2013 plan for a year. It will save quite a bit.

 

[Wreckem]

Did you read the articles? I read frobes:



And what are these costing cutting measures of ACA- Ultra high deductibles



So the ACA jacked up for deductible 1200-2000%, and now people are getting less care. Yup that's cost savings. Get less, pay more.

It depends on the plan and your provider. And you are comparing a extremely low deductible($300) that isn't necessarily even offered on the private(ie: not employeer or group based) market and if it is you pay a pretty penny for it. Most people on non employer/non group based insurance plans did NOT have $300 deductibles. Have you actually priced out plans that you are talking about?

Again like I said it depends on plans. It also depends on cherry picking. Both sides are cherry picking data, and not going with an average. Its not as bad as you are making it out to be and not as rosey as some are making it to be. Its somewhere in the middle.

ACA is a tremendous help for those it was meant to help, those who don't have insurance who qualify for a tax credit. Or those who have pre-existing condtions(which includes having a BMI more than 35 for most insurance companies). If you don't qualify for a tax credit or dont have a pre-exisiting condition you are screwed to varying degrees.

Yeah it was partially sold on it would lower healthcare costs. It does but not for the consumer, unless the consumer falls into one of the above categories. The ACA obviously helps some people, doesn't effect some people, and hurts some people. It more or less reshuffles the private(non employer/group)insurance winners and losers deck. Take my brother for instance.

My brother and his wife are independent contractors. They gross less than $68000. They are eligible for both tax credits AND cost sharing(and a tax deduction for the premiums they do have to pay). Right now the whole family has zero health care(they make to much for CHIP). They both smoke. My brother is also a diabetic, his wife and oldest son are outside of underwriting weight guidelines for 2013 plans. On the exchange after tax credits they'd pay $625 a month for a silver plan with a dental rider for all five members of their household. Their premiums would be cheaper if they didn't smoke or cut the dental rider down to only those required by law to have dental under the ACA(those under 18). A large part of their out of pocket expenses would also be covered by cost sharing. However they listen to talk radio and don't want to sign up because talk radio has so misinformed people.

 

[Paul98]

She might not have qualified for private insurance even before Oct. I was looking at the underwriting guidelines for the Big 5 health insurance providers in Texas and they are pretty strict in their underwriting guidelines. They have flat out rejections if you are past a certain BMI, if you are on certain drugs, or have certain medical conditions.

Right now if you can qualify for a 2013 plan you are better of trying to eek in under the wire and atleast have the 2013 plan for a year. It will save quite a bit.

The ACA is lowering my health insurance by a lot as now I can choose a plan I want and not just be stuck with what I had as I was unable to change it. Now I can pay half of what I was paying and get a plan that works much better for me.

 

[MiniDoom]

The ACA is lowering my health insurance by a lot as now I can choose a plan I want and not just be stuck with what I had as I was unable to change it. Now I can pay half of what I was paying and get a plan that works much better for me.

how old are you and how much have your deductibles increased?

 

[Atreus21]

I wish I could get in on the fun, but I already have insurance through work.

Well, the employer mandate was conveniently pushed back until after the 2014 midterms. Pray that some bureaucrat didn't arbitrarily decide your insurance is sub par.

 

[werepossum]

Yes they are through the same companies buy not every Dr is on every plan.

If you are buying a metal based plan on or off the exchange, opt for a PPO and not a HMO. HMOs metal based plans are EXTREMELY limiting on terms of what providers are on those plans.

Although, the real reason why Dr's aren't taking the plans is because on these plans allow the purchaser a 90 grace period instead of the previous 30 day grace periods to pay their premiums, which leaves providers open to to a ton of risk. If they fixed that loophole more/all providers would likely accept the metal based plans. This issue effects ALL metal based plans, on OR off the exchange.

Ah, it appears I was simply wrong. There are significant differences. This largely goes away 90 days after open enrollment ends though, right? Or is that a 90 grace period on each premium as well? Am I wrong to assume that most providers will accept these plans six months from now?

Thanks for several posts of good info, by the way. Sixone has a point though; if you have to buy through the exchanges, invest in a good credit watch program as well.

 

[Wreckem]

Ah, it appears I was simply wrong. There are significant differences. This largely goes away 90 days after open enrollment ends though, right? Or is that a 90 grace period on each premium as well? Am I wrong to assume that most providers will accept these plans six months from now?

Thanks for several posts of good info, by the way. Sixone has a point though; if you have to buy through the exchanges, invest in a good credit watch program as well.

Your social security number is not stored(your other data is). The social security number is only transmitted through the hub in order to verify your identity and income. The hub would have to be actively hacked when your data is being transmitted. The only other way your SS would be compromised is through click jacking.

So far there haven't been any reports of someone being click jacked in the wild nor has their been a breach of the hub. If you have already had your identity and income verified you are probably not going to have your SS compromised(other personal data is still in danger).

And again the ONLY PEOPLE WHO SHOULD SIGN UP THROUGH THE EXCHANGE ARE THOSE WHO QUALIFY FOR TAX CREDITS.

That said its a good idea for anyone that has homeowners or renters insurance to have an identity theft rider as its only pennies a month. What am I saying though, most adults aren't responsible enough to watch their credit or have an identity theft rider, and most of those are likely to be compromised someway somehow anyways.

And if social security numbers are at extreme risk, god I'd hate to be a GOP staffer. Almost every GOP congressional staffer has been forced onto the exchanges by their Bosses. I'd fucking quit if I was a GOP staffer. Boss forcing you into a program your "boss" doesn't believe in and has the option of not forcing you into it, but the boss does so anyways is a shitty. Boss is also a shitty human being as well.

 

[Wreckem]

Ah, it appears I was simply wrong. There are significant differences. This largely goes away 90 days after open enrollment ends though, right? Or is that a 90 grace period on each premium as well? Am I wrong to assume that most providers will accept these plans six months from now?

Thanks for several posts of good info, by the way. Sixone has a point though; if you have to buy through the exchanges, invest in a good credit watch program as well.

I believe its on monthly premium payments. Prior to the exchanges, health insurance has always given you a 30 day grace to get your account current. IE: They will cover those 30 days so long as you pay your premium before the end of those 30 days. The exchange/metal plans are 90 days. Basically it goes like this,

A person gets a procedure done during their first 30 days of grace, they go back and get several more procedures done between 31-90 days. Before a Dr would not end of doing the treatments beyond the first 30 days because the person would no longer have insurance. Now they have no way of telling if a person has insurance after those 30 days, so they could potentially lose a lot of money if someone gets treatment during their 90 grace and never pays their premiums. Its one of many huge oversights and needs to be fixed, but likely wont because Republicans want to tear the system apart not fix problems with it.

I am all for tearing up the ACA, but we need to come up with something else to replace it with. Going back to the old system doesn't fix anything.

 

[CADsortaGUY]

The ACA is lowering my health insurance by a lot as now I can choose a plan I want and not just be stuck with what I had as I was unable to change it. Now I can pay half of what I was paying and get a plan that works much better for me.

<cough>bullshit<cough>

 

[michal1980]

It depends on the plan and your provider. And you are comparing a extremely low deductible($300) that isn't necessarily even offered on the private(ie: not employeer or group based) market and if it is you pay a pretty penny for it. Most people on non employer/non group based insurance plans did NOT have $300 deductibles. Have you actually priced out plans that you are talking about?

Again like I said it depends on plans. It also depends on cherry picking. Both sides are cherry picking data, and not going with an average. Its not as bad as you are making it out to be and not as rosey as some are making it to be. Its somewhere in the middle.

ACA is a tremendous help for those it was meant to help, those who don't have insurance who qualify for a tax credit. Or those who have pre-existing condtions(which includes having a BMI more than 35 for most insurance companies). If you don't qualify for a tax credit or dont have a pre-exisiting condition you are screwed to varying degrees.

Yeah it was partially sold on it would lower healthcare costs. It does but not for the consumer, unless the consumer falls into one of the above categories. The ACA obviously helps some people, doesn't effect some people, and hurts some people. It more or less reshuffles the private(non employer/group)insurance winners and losers deck. Take my brother for instance.

My brother and his wife are independent contractors. They gross less than $68000. They are eligible for both tax credits AND cost sharing(and a tax deduction for the premiums they do have to pay). Right now the whole family has zero health care(they make to much for CHIP). They both smoke. My brother is also a diabetic, his wife and oldest son are outside of underwriting weight guidelines for 2013 plans. On the exchange after tax credits they'd pay $625 a month for a silver plan with a dental rider for all five members of their household. Their premiums would be cheaper if they didn't smoke or cut the dental rider down to only those required by law to have dental under the ACA(those under 18). A large part of their out of pocket expenses would also be covered by cost sharing. However they listen to talk radio and don't want to sign up because talk radio has so misinformed people.

my response was strictly to the poster that was using the Forbes article saying costs were decreasing.

The deductible number was part of a quote from forbes.

Personally. I've never said this wont help some people. It will.

But it doesn't fix health costs. And it going to be a disaster for anyone in the middle class that makes to much.

After the income cut offs, health insurance costs turn into a terribly regressive tax.

and if your younger. your f-ed

 

[michal1980]

I believe its on monthly premium payments. Prior to the exchanges, health insurance has always given you a 30 day grace to get your account current. IE: They will cover those 30 days so long as you pay your premium before the end of those 30 days. The exchange/metal plans are 90 days. Basically it goes like this,

A person gets a procedure done during their first 30 days of grace, they go back and get several more procedures done between 31-90 days. Before a Dr would not end of doing the treatments beyond the first 30 days because the person would no longer have insurance. Now they have no way of telling if a person has insurance after those 30 days, so they could potentially lose a lot of money if someone gets treatment during their 90 grace and never pays their premiums. Its one of many huge oversights and needs to be fixed, but likely wont because Republicans want to tear the system apart not fix problems with it.

I am all for tearing up the ACA, but we need to come up with something else to replace it with. Going back to the old system doesn't fix anything.

since when do two wrongs make a right?